I can’t imagine that Bryce is a great singer so it’s no surprise that they balked at this record deal.

Harper, according to the executive, is asking for a record deal that will exceed 10 years in length, and likely pay him in excess of $400 million.

Agent Scott Boras says the only active negotiations of late have involved a one-year deal in 2017. Harper, who made $5 million last season, is eligible for salary arbitration, and Boras seemed mystified by the Nationals’ stance.

Are there standards for managers? I suppose you could look at career wins, winning percentage, and postseason appearances and cobble together some sort of formula. But if you just eyeball those lists, it’s pretty clear that 2,000 wins or three World Championships gets you in. Piniella’s got just one of the latter, and only 1,835 of the former. Plus, his .517 career winning ...

The contract is expected to be for four years and total of $60 million-$65 million, according to MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal, who first reported San Francisco was close to signing the free-agent closer.

Hugh Ward, who with Harry Frazee has purchased the Boston American baseball team…is planning to give Europe some major league baseball as soon as the war ends.

“My plan is to send a couple of baseball teams over as soon as the league season here closes,” Mr. Ward, who is president, today said. “As for the expense, it will cost less than to send a team from New York to San Francisco.

Rany Jazayerli explained why this isn’t true on Twitter. I’ll consolidate his tweets here because Twitter is just horrible for stuff like this.

Yes, they can. I’m getting really tired of seeing this meme everywhere. The Royals planting this story doesn’t make it true. Let me explain: No, the Royals probably can’t afford to pay $90M to 5 players next year. But that’s not what will happen. What will happen is 5 different players will each separately make a decision on whether to accept a 1 year, ...

OTP articles are traditionally whimsical, but not much whimsy is abroad these days. Since labor relations are always political, here’s an actual baseball-news item for a change:

Word broke late last week of a new five-year CBA as a deadline fast approached. The luxury-tax threshold — officially called the Competitive Balance Tax — and tougher rules surrounding it quickly emerged as a central theme.

Despite those enhanced rules, what’s glaringly evident is that MLB no longer sees the ...

I can’t see how they wouldn’t be able to afford the draft picks. Each player they’d be losing makes more than the draft slot will be. I would think they’d also be tempted to make one last run.

In theory, the Royals could carry all of their potential free agents through ‘17, make each a qualifying offer and collect draft picks following the first round for every one who signs a contract above $50 million — a new stipulation under the collective-bargaining agreement.

“His defense has always been his calling card,” one major-league scout said. “His hands are excellent. His arm strength and accuracy are above average. He blocks pitches in the dirt well. He handles pitching staffs well and fulfills the pitching coach’s game plans ideally.”

The numbers back that up. Over the past nine seasons, Mathis ranks fifth among catchers in defensive runs saved. And on a per-inning basis, he rates batter than the leader—Yadier Molina.

Most in the baseball media have declared management as the winner in the sport’s latest round of labor negotiations. Over the last two days, I’ve portrayed the outcome as a split decision by illustrating how the new CBA will do little to change the prevailing trends in the game. But, that begs the question: is the status quo good for the players?

Right-handed starter—Tyler Glasnow, Altoona (2 games), Indianapolis (20 games), Pittsburgh (7 games): Glasnow rang up 144 strikeouts over 116 2/3 innings in the Minors to pace the organization for the second straight year. While he compiled a 1.93 ERA and .176 opponents’ average in the Minors, the 6-foot-8, 220-pound hurler also issued 5.2 walks per nine innings. However, his command improved as the year went on, especially after making the jump to the Majors in July and September.

No official action was taken on Friday, but Spero will continue to consider the players’ streamlined filing, which is limited only to players who spend the entirety of their seasons in a league that plays all of its games in one state. The players are seeking class-action status for the spring training, extended spring training and the instructional leagues, as well as the California League.

If successful, the players would then go forward with their effort to seek the enforcement of the ...

The Cubs are among those teams heading to this week’s winter meetings shopping for free agent relievers. And how Cecil’s signing and other market factors – such as a healthy trade market and newly struck changes to revenue-sharing and luxury-tax rules – affect the prices could affect how aggressive and active the Cubs choose to be.

“I don’t think any one signing is going to have [a market-setting] impact,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. “Brett Cecil’s a very, very good ...

Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr., said, “In the prior offseason, we went for a stronger bench, more depth and more power. And we got all that. But we sacrificed a little bit of athleticism and our defense wasn’t as good as it had been the year before.”

“Defensively, we took a step backwards,” admitted Mozeliak. And it wasn’t just the infield defense.

“If we do catch the ball better, we ultimately will pitch better,” said Mozeliak. “We put a lot of stress on our pitchers ...

1. You could easily see the Red Sox and White Sox or Red Sox and Tigers hooking up on a megadeal. The Red Sox could easily pull off a Chris Sale-Jose Abreu trade if they’re willing to give up Andrew Benintendi or Yoan Moncada, as well as Jackie Bradley Jr., Eduardo Rodriguez, and Blake Swihart. They could pull off a Miguel Cabrera-Justin Verlander deal with the Tigers if they were willing to include the above players or add Michael Kopech. Why do it ...

Sources indicate to FanRag Sports that the San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals are currently at the forefront in terms of suitors for Melancon, and he is expected to sign a deal that will break the current reliever record held by Jonathan Papelbon, who signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in November, 2011 (though that record will surely be broken by Chapman and Jansen later this winter).

Kinsler has been the superior player but he’s six years older. Whether that age difference will show up in his play over the next two seasons is questionable.

While Dozier, 28, is signed for two more seasons at a combined $15 million, the 34-year-old Kinsler could be controlled through 2018 for just $6 million more if his option is exercised. Kinsler, a four-time all-star with superior defensive metrics to Dozier’s, can block trades to 10 teams, including the Dodgers, owners of perhaps the ...